How do you guys feel about modern day
homelessness?
Morello: So far we’ve played eight shows. One
of those shows was on Skid Row in Los Angeles.
And every show that we’ve charged any money
for, we’ve given 100% of the money away to
homeless organisations in those cities. And
tonight we’ve got a partner, part of the proceeds
will go to Bread for the City.
Have you or anyone close to you experienced
homelessness?
Morello: I’ve worked for years with an organisation
called PATH in Los Angeles, People Assisting
the Homeless, and I know many of the
families there. That’s where my family spent
all of our holidays.
Chuck D: Black in America man, you’ll find out
that 60 percent of your extended family is on
the cusp of being out. Lose a job and you have
unforgiving banks; you have empty buildings
and houses – more empty buildings and houses
than you have people that are outside of them
on the street, that’s troubling.
What should whoever is chosen to
be president do to put an end to
homelessness?
Morello: Well I can tell you, if I were president,
I would make it job one to have zero tolerance for
homelessness in the United States of America.
Homelessness is not something that happens,
homelessness is a crime. It’s almost a war crime.
We spend money on battleships and we spend
hundreds of millions of dollars on presidential
and congressional campaigns while people
live in the street. It’s outrageous. Any decent
society would first and foremost make sure
that everyone has a place to stay, everyone
has enough to eat, everyone has an education
and that everyone has a chance.
You have said that you are “making
America rage again” and that it is not
enough just to vote. What more can
individuals do?
Chuck D: Making America Rage Again is making
America think again and being concerned about
everything outside of their individual self. And
I think what each and every person can do is
begin to think outside of themselves for what
they can do to say something or do something
to help somebody.
Usually for a person to say something of enlightenment to somebody, it doesn’t take much. But in a time where perception and gadgets rule the roost, people feel that the currency of attention is low and that nobody is paying attention to them if they talk about helping somebody, especially if they’re not known for it or not famous or don’t get paid for it. “Each one teach one” is a real statement.
What advice would you give homeless
people to stay inspired?
Morello: I would just say that there is always
a path. And sometimes homelessness has to do
with things that may not be in people’s control,
where that may be a mental illness or maybe
some sort of drug or alcohol addiction that they
need help for. So on the one hand, do not be
shy about taking advantage of what services
might be available.
But my advice would be to people who are not homeless: to stop treating homeless people like another species, like some sort of subspecies of humanity. We are all a human family and I think that we have a responsibility to look out for each other.
Tom’s guitar says “Arm the Homeless.”
What does that really mean to you?
Morello: If you knew half the thoughts that are
in my head, they would put me in Guantanamo
Bay…[shrugs]...I didn’t stutter.
DJ Lord: Next question please, ha ha.
Morello: I’m being sort of glib. But y’know,
soldiers are armed and commit war crimes;
police officers are armed and murder black
people right and left everywhere; this would
sort of... even it up.
Chuck D: You’ve got to arm the homeless
because it’s already a harm the homeless
[society]. The unfair thing about it: you have
militia, police force, the military, who will
arm up and murder people for the fact that
they’re going to group up and ask can they
have food, shelter and clothing. That’s troubling,
depressing.
Who are you playing for, who needs to
hear Prophets of Rage?
Chuck D: There are a lot of people that feel they
have no voice. Y’know, the homeless in the
United States of America damn sure have less
of a voice than banks. If a person’s homeless,
what should their move be? To go to a state
capital, city hall, state bank – to group up and
be there. It’s a news story.
